Let it go…and be renewed!

 

You don’t have to
  
alone…
let it go and take God

with you!

So…I totally love watching the DIY network from time to time. Some brilliant ideas are out there for working on most nearly everything.  It just tunes you in and keeps you there for a while.  But this time I saw a little more in the show that I was watching.
I was watching ‘Rehab Addict; which of course is a DIY TV show where the lady goes in and rehabilitates a house for people or sometimes even for herself.  Anyway, they were remodeling a house for a couple during this episode and she was finding that so much of the ‘old’ part of the house had just been covered up with new stuff, as well as new additions that were added.  The house had had previous walls, staircases, etc.  just covered up to make look ‘new’ instead of taking it out or refinishing it.  It was made to look nice but it actually just ended up creating a bunch of wasted space and problems with the house from floor to ceiling. 

Isn’t that house like some can live their lives?  They just tend to cover up their problems of their old life with trying to build their new life up.  Instead of digging in and getting their hands dirty and refinishing the ‘old self’ by sanding off the rough edges and making the necessary changes to the old life and really transforming the old into the new, so that the new can really shine out.  If we really take the time to strip away the old, something new can really end up shining out bright.
Eyes can be drawn to the details instead of being hidden by all the cover up. It may not be easy and tough at times but if you get in there and work on the clean up process, soon the old will become new and the difference will be eternal.

As much as we want to be able to do everything ourselves with all the ‘do it yourself’ stuff out there, sometimes we just need to ask for help.

Be renewed.  
Romans 12:2 – Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.

Speaking of renewing our lives.  We just celebrated Easter (from the days leading up to Palm Sunday to the Last Supper to the Resurrection).  This is where many churches tend to have many people come through their doors.  Some for the first time ever in their life,  many regular attendees and many of your 2-3 times of year attendees.  Either way, they are making their way through the doors and they will have one chance that weekend to hear the Word of God and why we are followers of Christ.  It is also our one chance to make that impact in their live in that hour to hour in a half we have these people who came here as they are in our midst.  It’s our chance as followers of Christ to share that relationship we have with those people who may not know or understand and why we choose to follow Christ through out our daily lives.  We have the chance to share with them the relationship that can impact their future. 

This is the biggest choice we have to make and it’s an eternal one.  Which makes it highly important to tell everyone about it.
Matthew 28:19-20 – Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.

2 Corinthians 5:17-21 – This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun! And all of this is a gift from God, who brought us back to himself through Christ. And God has given us this task of reconciling people to him.  For God was in Christ, reconciling the world to himself, no longer counting people’s sins against them. And he gave us this wonderful message of reconciliation.  So we are Christ’s ambassadors; God is making his appeal through us. We speak for Christ when we plead, “Come back to God!”  For God made Christ, who never sinned, to be the offering for our sin, so that we could be made right with God through Christ.

So, let it go, ask for help, take God with you to help you clean up.  You don’t have to do it by yourself.  You’re not expected to do it alone.  And, in the end the difference will be eternal. 

Just a couple great verses here at the end I wanted to share at the end here as well.

Colossians 3:1-17 – Since you have been raised to new life with Christ, set your sights on the realities of heaven, where Christ sits in the place of honor at God’s right hand. Think about the things of heaven, not the things of earth. For you died to this life, and your real life is hidden with Christ in God. And when Christ, who is your life, is revealed to the whole world, you will share in all his glory.  So put to death the sinful, earthly things lurking within you. Have nothing to do with sexual immorality, impurity, lust, and evil desires. Don’t be greedy, for a greedy person is an idolater, worshiping the things of this world.  Because of these sins, the anger of God is coming.  You used to do these things when your life was still part of this world.  But now is the time to get rid of anger, rage, malicious behavior, slander, and dirty language.  Don’t lie to each other, for you have stripped off your old sinful nature and all its wicked deeds. Put on your new nature, and be renewed as you learn to know your Creator and become like him.  In this new life, it doesn’t matter if you are a Jew or a Gentile, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbaric, uncivilized, slave, or free. Christ is all that matters, and he lives in all of us.  Since God chose you to be the holy people he loves, you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience.  Make allowance for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others.  Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds us all together in perfect harmony.  And let the peace that comes from Christ rule in your hearts. For as members of one body you are called to live in peace. And always be thankful.  Let the message about Christ, in all its richness, fill your lives. Teach and counsel each other with all the wisdom he gives. Sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs to God with thankful hearts.  And whatever you do or say, do it as a representative of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through him to God the Father.

Ephesians 4:17-32 –  With the Lord’s authority I say this: Live no longer as the Gentiles do, for they are hopelessly confused.  Their minds are full of darkness; they wander far from the life God gives because they have closed their minds and hardened their hearts against him.  They have no sense of shame. They live for lustful pleasure and eagerly practice every kind of impurity.  But that isn’t what you learned about Christ.  Since you have heard about Jesus and have learned the truth that comes from him,  throw off your old sinful nature and your former way of life, which is corrupted by lust and deception.  Instead, let the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes.  Put on your new nature, created to be like God—truly righteous and holy.  So stop telling lies. Let us tell our neighbors the truth, for we are all parts of the same body.  And “don’t sin by letting anger control you.” Don’t let the sun go down while you are still angry, for anger gives a foothold to the devil.  If you are a thief, quit stealing. Instead, use your hands for good hard work, and then give generously to others in need.  Don’t use foul or abusive language. Let everything you say be good and helpful, so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them.  And do not bring sorrow to God’s Holy Spirit by the way you live. Remember, he has identified you as his own, guaranteeing that you will be saved on the day of redemption.  Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, and slander, as well as all types of evil behavior.  Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you.

 

Blessings,